Recuperated just enough to participate in a few brief catch-up sessions

Embarked on another term of the torturous and painfully dangerous journey known as "school"

Unwillingly adopted a hermit lifestyle for the sake of completing various assignments before their due dates

Quite frankly, it hasn't been the most enjoyable period of the year, and I can only anticipate the coming months will be even more challenging to cope with. (Pardon any unforeseen mini-hiatuses on this space for the time being!)

3) LucullusAfter hearing several positive remarks regarding Lucullus' pineapple buns, I decided to check them out on a lazy Saturday morning. The parking lot of their 14th and Kennedy was relatively empty - a rarity for Markham in general. I pulled into a shady spot with ease and entered the premises.

The interior was alike any other Chinese bakery: plastic trays and clear orange tongs by the entrance and rows upon rows of egg-washed buns in individual bread cases. Staff wasn't particularly friendly: they didn't even bother to crack a smile at any of the customers in line, but then again, this didn't come as a surprise to me.

Rather, it was the environment and pineapple bun itself that had brought upon massive disappointment. As soon as I plopped into one of their chairs, my bottom sank directly into the wooden frame. Over time, the cushion had settled into the depths of the seat, yet the staff hadn't bothered to recycle it. Comfort is of one matter, but safety is should have definitely warranted a reason for replacement. Along with the much-to-be-desired seating, many of the tables exhibited remains of spilled tea and/or bread crumbs, ultimately becoming a feasting ground for flies.

Honestly, I could have overlooked all of the above (or opted for takeout only) had the Pineapple Bun lived up to its standards as described online. "Dry. Stale. Tasteless." were the three terms that emerged with the first bite. The cookie crust was flaky, but nowhere near the levels of crunchiness and sweetness experienced at other locations; the bun itself was also extremely depressing. Simply put, it was a very subpar product.

4) The Alley
Commerce Gate is gradually making its way upwards on the ladder in terms of diversity. From the failed mess that was Donburi to the cute dessert shop that is Sweet Note, the plaza's latest additions have made it a hot topic all over my feed. The Alley, the most recent bubble tea outpost since CoCo, offers a tiny, rustic space with a cafe-like atmosphere.
Their specialties range from Royal No. 9, a milk tea crafted from Assam leaves roasted with blueberries to potted milk teas with chopped Oreo bits. Sesame-flavoured tapioca pearls - known as "Deerioca" - also seems to be a popular addition to drinks, though, oddly enough, the topping is only made available after 8:00 PM on Fridays and weekends.

< Pictured above and below: Apple of My Eye and Sweet Dew Oolong >

After the tumultuous Chatime incident, we opted to steer clear of the milk teas, which tasted ever so strongly of milk powder. Instead, we chose Apple of My Eye, a tea-apple cider vinegar combo and Sweet Dew Oolong. Both beverages were associated with hefty price tags, neither worthy of them in the slightest. Service was decent, as was the environment, though the beverages themselves were really quite average.
It was clear that The Alley had made desperate attempts to differentiate themselves with uniquely-named products, though I felt nothing more than a lack of originality and poor ingredient selection.

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Who Am I?

​I'm the one that talks fashion and K-Pop randoms behind Quirky Aesthetics, the one who contributes honest opinions about commercial beauty items on Review Junkie, the one that obsessively shares photos of food on Pinterest, the one that loves her ﻿﻿DSLR﻿﻿more than her own beingand the one that wants to work in the transportation sector for a living.Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.